Miner's creek diversion plan creates water pollution fears

A north Queensland community says it is concerned local waterways could be contaminated if a mining company is allowed to divert a creek.

Donna Bulloch from Mining Communities United in Collinsville, north-west of Mackay, says the operators of the Sonoma Mine have applied to the State Government to alter the course of Coral Creek.

The move would allow them to access more than 3 million tonnes of coal.

She says the group is concerned about the impact on native vegetation and wildlife and the health and safety of waterways if the Government approves the application.

"Our community is a strong supporter of the industry - we always have been, we always will be," she said.

"We know that sometimes this has to happen but I think we need a lot more reassurance.

"We want DERM [the Department of Environment and Resource Management] to step up, we want [the] Department of Mines all to really closely [look at this] and not just get it and see the dollar signs and just tick it off."

Ms Bulloch says the group met mine representatives to discuss its concerns last night.

"What we're concerned about is that these guys said they'd never come near Coral Creek," she said.

"Now they're proposing to divert a natural creek system and with the past history of the mine and some of the bad records of chemical spills, we just want more control of the vital local waterways."